Privacy Policy

The Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and the Clinic always maintains the privacy and confidentiality of clients and their personal health information.

The client’s personal health information, privacy and confidentiality are securely protected.

The RMT and Clinic must:

Comply with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA).

Understand that the rules governing consent to decisions involving personal health information are found in PHIPA and are different from those governing consent to treatment found in the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 (HCCA).

Understand that under PHIPA, in order for consent to collect, access, use or disclose personal information to be valid, RMTs must ensure that it:

• is reasonable to believe that the client knows the purpose of the collection, use or disclosure, and that they may give or withhold consent;
• the consent relates to the personal health information; and
• the consent is not obtained through deception or coercion.

Understand that under PHIPA, the RMT must obtain consent to collect, access, use or
disclose personal health information, and the RMT must:

• obtain the client’s express consent before disclosing personal health information to
  a person outside the client’s circle of care; and
• understand that if they have received personal health information from the client or
  another healthcare professional for a healthcare purpose, they can rely on the client’s implied consent to disclose the personal health information within the client’s circle of care, unless they have reason to believe that the client has expressly withheld or withdrawn consent to do so.

Obtain consent from clients who are capable. If the client is incapable, then RMTs must obtain consent from the client’s substitute decision-maker for the collection, use or disclosure of personal health information.

Only collect, use or disclose personal health information that is necessary to meet the individual’s health needs or to eliminate or reduce a significant risk of bodily harm.

Only provide access to personal health information to authorized persons, except as required or allowed by law.

Allow clients to access their own personal health information.

Ensure that client privacy is maintained throughout Massage Therapy treatment (for example, adequate draping and avoiding treatment-related conversations in non-private places).

Use any electronic communication, social media and other forms of digital technology ethically and professionally, in a way that protects client privacy and confidentiality.

Store, share, transfer and dispose of client data on personal devices in a way that maintains the privacy and confidentiality of clients.

Comply with requirements for mandatory reporting of privacy breaches.